Resources

This website is intended to be a resource for schools and farms participating in the Agricultural Career Exploration (ACE) – Whatcom program.

Course Relevance

Animal Biology

Animal nutrition, reproduction, animal management in dairy (Steensma) and swine (Alluvial). Applied spring research project support.

Mechanics & Fabrication

On-farm projects for all participating farms: implement repair, artistic signage, custom trailers, livestock panels.

Small gas engine repair and maintenance, sprayer calibration and repair.

Renewable energy technology at Small Acres, including wind, solar, and biodiesel equipment.

Horticulture & Floriculture

Seedling propagation at Small Acres, woody plant propagation and grafting at Cloud Mountain Farm Center. Pruning, plant biology, and plant physiology during summer and winter propagation.

Landscape design across all farms, opportunity to connect with Cloud Mountain Farm Center customers.

Natural Resources

Watershed management at Steensma and Alluvial farms; water quality and management, waste management and nutrient cycling.

Soil testing across all farms; wildlife-agriculture interface and riparian area strategies.

Business & Marketing

Marketing from direct-to-consumer to wholesale; all farms.

Digital Media promotions and communications for all partner farms; events, tours, sales, on-farm events, brand development.

Finance and small business modeling, crop enterprise budgets and forecasts.

Family & Consumer Science

Food safety and production at Steensma and Small Acres; product development, farm to final product opportunities, constraints, and considerations.

Civic & Leadership

Farmer-led advocacy at the local, state and federal level—land use, environmental considerations, Farm Bill.

All farmer-mentors are skilled in community leadership off farm, be it through nonprofit work, national organizations, women in agriculture, FFA, or others

Mount Baker High School
Lesson Frameworks

Nooksack Valley High School
Lesson Frameworks

Ferndale High School
Lesson Frameworks

coming soon.

Cloud Mountain Farm Center Tour

Cloud Mountain Farm Center Nursery

Alluvial Farm

Cloud Mountain Farm Center recently launched Agricultural Career Exploration (ACE) - Whatcom, a program that engages students in exploring a wide range of potential career opportunities and building career skills in agriculture. Cloud Mountain Farm Center is the largest program of Sustainable Connections, a Whatcom County based nonprofit that develops environmental, economic, and educational solutions to drive meaningful, long-term change.

Agricultural Career Exploration (ACE) - Whatcom receives support and funding from a US Department of Labor Career Connect Washington grant. Read more about USDOL grant funding at esd.wa.gov/usdol.